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From the balcony of the Skyspire Academy, Classic Blackwood watched the broadcast in silence.
He was no longer a boy watching legends—he was born of them.
His father, Chris—the God of the Empire.
And Ethan—not family, not by blood—but once a name so powerful, even Classic had felt his shadow growing up.
Now, that same name had just been restored by his father.
Classic didn't blink as Ethan stood in the center of the screen, stoic and silent. The cheers echoed across the city, but Classic's heartbeat stayed steady.
He wasn't impressed.
Behind him, Amal watched her son with a quiet pride. "So. The Phantom King returns."
Classic spoke without turning. "Yeah. And that return is just the start."
Amal stepped beside him. "You think he's still a threat?"
Classic tilted his head. "He's always a threat. But this isn't about Ethan anymore. This is about legacy. Control. The next chapter."
He turned to face her, his tone sharp. "They're fighting to keep the throne steady. I'm preparing to rebuild it entirely."
Amal's smile was faint—but proud.
Classic continued, his voice dropping low. "Ethan wants redemption. Chris wants control. Christiana wants dominance."
"And you?" Amal asked.
Classic looked out over the city again, eyes narrowing. "I want destiny."
The Blackwood legacy wasn't about survival anymore.
It was about evolution.
And Classic?
He was ready to start writing his name in the empire's next era—with ink, or with blood.